Luke

From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. (NIV) Acts 16:11-15

Paul and his team travel about 150 miles from Troas to Neapolis, the port of Philippi. The journey took them 2 days. Once they landed in Neapolis they traveled northwest, approximately 10 miles, inland to Philippi. After several days, Paul and his fellow workers go outside the city to the Gangites River. At the river they meet a number of women who had gathered for prayer. The women welcome the men and Lydia’s life changes.

Luke, the author of Acts, writes that Lydia was originally from Thyatira, a city located in western Asia Minor. She had taken up residence in Philippi. She was a businesswoman who sold purple cloth. Most likely, Lydia was a wealthy woman. “The purple dye applied to fine linen was obtained from the secretion of shellfish (mollusks) that live in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea.’Since approximately eight thousand molluscs were required to produce one gram of purple dye, purple cloth was extremely expensive.’ Purple garments were worn by emperors and by private citizens as a status symbol. . .We conclude, then, that Lydia belonged to the class of wealthy merchants and was the owner of a large house.” (Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. New Testament commentary: Exposition of the Acts of the Apostles.)

God had been preparing Lydia’s heart. She was a “God-fearer,” a Gentile that believed in the Jew’s God. When she heard Paul share the Gospel, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior. God knew that Lydia was one of His children. And He knew that Paul was His messenger to share His Word with her. Lydia’s life was eternally changed!

Today, we are surrounded by people who claim to be religious or spiritual or perhaps even, “God-fearers.” God knows who needs to hear His Word. . .He knows where they are right now. . .He knows when Truth will become more than an idea to them. . .and, He knows who His messenger of the Gospel will be. Yes, God still uses ordinary people like you and me to be His missionaries, His messengers of Good News!

Are you watching for the “God-fearers” (those who are remarkably receptive to God) in your life? They may not know His Name or who salvation comes through, but they are searching for meaning and purpose in life. Please take a few moments right now to stop, to pray, and to ask God to show you who around you is searching for Him. Then, meet them at the “river” and share His hope of salvation!

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (NIV) Acts 2:42-47

The community of early Christians enjoyed the favor of nonbelievers in Jerusalem. These unbelievers were aware of the events of Pentecost and were watching the life of the early congregation. What were these marks that distinquished the early believers?

The book of Acts has three short summary-like paragraphs about the early Christian community (2:42-47; 4:32-35; and 5:12-16). In Acts 2:42 the author, Luke, describes the early church by telling us that the believers were distinguished by 4 things. The were devoted to:

The apostles’ teaching,

Fellowship with one another,

“Breaking of bread,” and

Prayer.

The Greek verb that is translated “devoted” indicates a steadfast and single-mindedness to a certain course of action. The early followers of Christ were committed to following God’s Word. “The apostles’ teaching” refers to the material considered to be authoritative because it was the message about Jesus proclaimed by the apostles. It would have undoubtedly included a compilation of the words of Jesus, some account of his earthly ministry, the crucifixion, and the resurrection. Here are just a few of Christ’s words and the importance of obedience:

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. (NIV) John 14:15

“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (NIV) John 14:21

Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (NIV) John 14:23

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (NIV) John 14:26

If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. (NIV) John 15:10

You are my friends if you do what I command. (NIV) John 15:14

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (NIV) John 17:17

The early followers of Christ were committed to following His Word. What about you?

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (NIV) Acts 2:42-47

Luke tells us in Acts 2:42 that the early church was distinguished by 4 things. The were devoted to:

The apostles’ teaching,

Fellowship with one another,

“Breaking of bread,” and

Prayer.

It is just as important today for us to be devoted to the Word of God as it was in the 1st century. Chuck Colson says: “When the people of God, united in His name, proclaim the Word of God, they can turn their world upside down.” The early church definitely turned their world upside down! But, they were not only devoted to the Word, but also to fellowship with one another. Authentic Biblical fellowship assumes and requires face-to-face communication, whether in New Testament times or in today’s Internet era.

Why are relationships so important? Apart from God himself, there will only be two things in eternity: God’s Word and God’s people, living in relationship with Him. This reality alone should serve as a wake-up call to all of us. We should be striving to have God-honoring relationships in our lives. I know people who are looking forward to Heaven to “get away from certain people” (often in our own churches). What they forget is that many of those people they are longing to escape from will be with them for eternity!

Luke’s reference to “the fellowship” implies that there was something distinctive in the gatherings of the early believers. One of those distinctives is found in
Acts 4:32: “All the believers were one in heart and mind.” The whole congregation was united to one another in their allegiance to Jesus.

What about you? Are you striving to have God-honoring relationships? Are you diligently striving to be of one heart and mind with other Christians?

Luke’s reference to “the fellowship” implies that there was something distinctive in the gatherings of the early believers. One of those distinctives is found in Acts 4:32: “All the believers were one in heart and mind.” The whole congregation was united to one another in their allegiance to Jesus. The Holy Spirit was holding together the church uniting them in their doctrinal beliefs, as well as in fellowship, giving, and worship (Acts 4:32).

Why is unity so important? Partially because it demonstrates to the world that we are Christians. At the end of His ministry, in John 13 & 17, Jesus made clear that we were to bear some distinguishing marks until His return. In the first passage Jesus says: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (NIV) John 13:34-35.

The “all men” in this verse refers to the world. Jesus gives us a command which includes the condition: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” An “if” is involved. IF you obey, others will know you are a Christian. But since this is a command, it can also be violated. His command is that we demonstrate a special love to all true Christians. Notice the quality of the love. We are to love all Christians as Jesus has loved us. The love he exhibited to us is to be our standard.

Now the hard part. . .Jesus is giving a right to the world. He is giving the world the right to judge whether you and I are Christians, based on our observable love toward all Christians. That’s pretty frightening! Please understand, Jesus is not saying that our failure to love other believers proves that we are not Christians. Rather He is saying, if you and I do not have the love we should have toward all other Christians, the world has the right to make the judgment that we are not Christians.

Why are we not have a greater impact on those around us who don’t know Christ? Why does our message of hope seem to lack power? Why don’t others ask us more about our faith? Could it be that we are failing to extend love, Jesus’ love, to our fellow believers?

How can we show the world a spirit of unity? The Bible has much to say about it. . .

Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Romans 12:16

Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10

. . . for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Ephesians 4:12-16

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Romans 14:19

being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; purpose in standing firm in unity ‘ to strive together in unity for the faith of the gospel. . . Philippians 1:27

. . . make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Philippians 2:2

Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Colossians 3:14

and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 1 Thessalonians 5:13